death certificate

noun

: an official document that gives information about a person's death (such as when and how the death happened)

Examples of death certificate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His death certificate later listed cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease among the causes of his death, with Parkinson’s disease noted as a contributing condition. — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Without the bodies, the medical examiner cannot issue a death certificate or determine the cause of death, Evers said, but investigators believe the women have died. — Laura Fay, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

His official cause of death was a heart attack, according to his death certificate. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the finding to PEOPLE on Wednesday, July 29, resolving a lingering question raised by an amendment to Rivas’ death certificate earlier this year. — Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026

Legal Definition

death certificate

noun

: a document setting forth information (as age, occupation, and place of birth) relating to a dead person and including a doctor's certification of the cause of death

Note: Death certificates are issued by a particular public official, as a city or town clerk. A death certificate is required to document a person's death for certain purposes, as to file an estate tax return or to probate an estate.